Posts Tagged ‘every school a food growing school’

I am a Facebook fan of Garden Organic (who are The National Charity for Organic Growing), and they just posted a message, which popped up in my News Feed. It says: “We believe that every school should be a food growing school and that every child should have the chance to learn food growing skills”.

I think this is a wonderful idea! So much so that I wanted to post a blog about it and raise awareness. I remember when I was in Primary 2 and we had the sweetest teacher, Miss Patterson. She taught us how to grow watercress and we were all so excited, watching these teeny shoots sprouting up from our little tubs of dirt.

I don’t remember much from Primary 2, being 5 years old and all (I have trouble remembering a week ago, never mind 20 years ago!). But the fact I can remember that speaks volumes! Seeing progress and experiencing achievement works wonders for the little ego!

They have started a campaign, called “Every School A Food-Growing School”, with the aim of persuading the Department for Education to allow this to happen!

I had a look at their report and it says that teaching children food-growing skills can help encourage children to lead healthier lives, through physical activity outdoors and inspiring children to eat the fruit and vegetables they have grown. It could also raise educational standards and improve behaviour, particularly for those less comfortable in a classroom setting.

Not only that, but it could teach children enterprise skills, such as organising the sale or donation of surplus produce, and build community spirit and a sense of citizenship, for example, linking up across the generations and supporting local charities.

On a completely different note, I spotted on the Garden Organic website that they are celebrating “National Potato Day” on the 30th January. I’m shocked that I knew not of this, considering I am a complete tottie fiend! I try to include potatoes in most of my meals to be honest, but I might try and do something a bit different, to honour such a celebration! 😉